JUNE REVIEW
We added 17 winners and over £600,000 in prize-money to our tally in June, ensuring we head into the second half of the year in third position in the Trainers’ Championship.
Relentless Voyager had ensured June got off to a winning start when scoring at Epsom on Derby Day. Third in last year’s Italian Derby, he had been gelded prior to a promising third on reappearance at Newmarket in May and it was a performance that suggests he can make his mark at a higher level. A good third at Listed level at York next time, he has plenty more to offer.
Al Shabab Storm has progressed with each run this year and he followed two fine efforts in defeat with a wide-margin success in a competitive handicap at Chester under Jason Watson. He is a talented individual and is likely to head to Newmarket’s July Festival next.
It was impossible not to be impressed by the performance of Clove Hitch in a class 2 novice at Newbury, making all under Oisin Murphy to win by eight lengths and looking a pattern performer in the making. She faced very different ground conditions in Listed company at Sandown Park on her next outing and didn’t have the run of things, but remains a really exciting prospect.
A winner on his third start in novice company in the hands of Oisin Murphy at Haydock at the beginning of the month, Subsequent doubled up in June with a taking handicap debut success in the Bibury Cup at Salisbury under Silvestre De Sousa. A beautifully-bred son of Galileo, he remains a work in progress and could land a big handicap this term, as can Wild Waves, who built on his handicap debut success at Kempton Park in May with an authoritative display upped in grade in a decent handicap at Doncaster, staying on powerfully under Danny Tudhope. He slipped on the bend when down the field at Haydock next time, but remains a young stayer on the up.
Tactician made it third time lucky with a ready win in maiden company at Goodwood under Will Carver. The son of Lope De Vega clearly has stamina in abundance, remains a work in progress and looks to have the potential to develop into a smart stayer. T’Challa was another to shed his maiden tag on his third start, with Oisin Murphy in the saddle for a narrow success over a mile at Windsor. Out of a Group 1 winner in South Africa, he looks set for an exciting second half of the campaign.
Belcamo is getting the hang of things and made a winning handicap debut at Goodwood, an hour before stablemate Tactician’s success, providing a double for Will Carver. That was just his second start on turf and there should certainly be more to come over middle-distances this season, which is also the case with Leicester Square, who showed a good attitude to win a Salisbury maiden at the second time of asking under Oisin Murphy. A son of second-season sire Masar, he can continue to progress.
Enchanting blitzed her four rivals with a speedy display over five furlongs at Goodwood, Hollie Doyle sending her into the lead from an early stage and the pair coming home some way clear. She could only finish second under a penalty at the same course a week later, but retains the scope to progress from what is still a fair mark. Apeeling’s hard-fought success at Windsor at the start of the month was followed by a lesser effort at York 11 days later, but she was up in grade and facing different conditions that day, so she can bounce back next time.
JUVENILE WINNERS
The two year olds have started to fire and there were five wins from the group this month.
Chaldean’s half-sister Kassaya was sent off favourite for the Queen Mary, on the back of a taking success in maiden company at Nottingham at the start of the month. Unfortunately, she suffered considerable trouble in running at Royal Ascot, but she is a filly with considerable potential and we are excited about her prospects.
Cool Hoof Luke was an inexpensive yearling purchase in Ireland, but he has quickly proved himself to be a classy colt, making a winning debut at Chelmsford in early June (getting the better of the subsequent Chesham third) before finishing a fine fourth in the Coventry at Royal Ascot, beaten less than a length. He showed excellent speed and can make his mark at Group level.
New Century made a really positive impression when scoring on his second start, readily getting the better of what had looked a good field at Doncaster, in a race that has produced plenty of smart performers over the past decade. The son of Kameko, whose first crop are shaping up very well, will be stepping up in grade next time and looks a very bright prospect.
Another that looks likely to go in search of black type in the near future is Flaming Stone, who took a marked step forwards on her second outing to win in great style at Newbury under Oisin Murphy. A half-sister to Group 2 winner Angel Power, she is certainly one to look forward to.
Remaat got off the mark at the third attempt with a wide-margin win at Newmarket in a three-runner contest, Oisin Murphy sending her straight to the front and never seeing another rival. She is improving with racing and can step up in grade next time.